Trapping an Elusive Phosphanyl-Phosphaalumene

We describe our efforts to access a compound with an Al=P double bond by reaction of Al(Nacnac) towards [H2CN(Dipp)]2P(PCO) (Nacnac=HC[C(Me)N(Dipp)]2; Dipp=2,6-iPr2C6H3). Our observations are consistent with the formation of a transient phosphanyl-phosphaalumene at low temperatures (-70 °C), however this species was found to readily undergo intramolecular C-H activation of the β-diketiminato ligand upon warming to room temperature. The reactivity of the transient complex toward small molecules including dihydrogen, carbon dioxide, phosphaketenes, amines and silanes could be explored at low temperatures, showcasing that the target compound can react as both a frustrated Lewis pair (via the pendant phosphanyl moiety) or in hydroelementation reactions of the Al=P bond. The elusive target molecule could be trapped by addition of a Lewis base (tetrahydrofuran) affording an isolable molecular species that reacts in an analogous fashion to the base-free compound.

Heteroatom-Based Diradical(oid)s

Heteroatom-centered diradical(oid)s have been in the focus of molecular main group chemistry for nearly 30 years. During this time, the diradical concept has evolved and the focus has shifted to the rational design of diradical(oid)s for specific applications. This review article begins with some important theoretical considerations of the diradical and tetraradical concept. Based on these theoretical considerations, the design of diradical(oid)s in terms of ligand choice, steric, symmetry, electronic situation, element choice, and reactivity is highlighted with examples. In particular, heteroatom-centered diradical reactions are discussed and compared with closed-shell reactions such as pericyclic additions. The comparison between closed-shell reactivity, which proceeds in a concerted manner, and open-shell reactivity, which proceeds in a stepwise fashion, along with considerations of diradical(oid) design, provides a rational understanding of this interesting and unusual class of compounds. The application of diradical(oid)s, for example in small molecule activation or as molecular switches, is also highlighted. The final part of this review begins with application-related details of the spectroscopy of diradical(oid)s, followed by an update of the heteroatom-centered diradical(oid)s and tetraradical(oid)s published in the last 10 years since 2013.

Isolation of an Arsenic Diradicaloid with a Cyclic C2 As2 -Core

Herein, we report on the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity studies of the first cyclic C2 As2 -diradicaloid {(IPr)CAs}2 (6) (IPr = C{N(Dipp)CH}2 ; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ). Treatment of (IPr)CH2 (1) with AsCl3 affords the Lewis adduct {(IPr)CH2 }AsCl3 (2). Compound 2 undergoes stepwise dehydrochlorination to yield {(IPr)CH}AsCl2 (3) and {(IPr)CAsCl}2 (5 a) or [{(IPr)CAs}2 Cl]OTf (5 b). Reduction of 5 a (or 5 b) with magnesium turnings gives 6 as a red crystalline solid in 90% yield. Compound 6 featuring a planar C2 As2 ring is diamagnetic and exhibits well resolved NMR signals. DFT calculations reveal a singlet ground state for 6 with a small singlet-triplet energy gap of 8.7 kcal mol-1 . The diradical character of 6 amounts to 20% (CASSCF, complete active space self consistent field) and 28% (DFT). Treatments of 6 with (PhSe)2 and Fe2 (CO)9 give rise to {(IPr)CAs(SePh)}2 (7) and {(IPr)CAs}2 Fe(CO)4 (8), respectively.

Synthesis of Bicyclic P,S-Heterocycles via the Addition of Thioketones to a Phosphorus-Centered Open-Shell Singlet Biradical

Formal addition reactions between the open-shell singlet biradical [P(μ-NTer)]₂ (1Ter) and xanthione, thioxanthione, as well as ferrocenyl naphthyl thioketone were studied in detail. Reactions were performed at room temperature and led to the formation of strained [2.1.1]-cage P,S-heterocycles (3). All addition products were isolated and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, reversible cleavage of the xanthenthione-biradical addition product into the parent compounds (biradical and thioketone) could be demonstrated by ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. The thermodynamic stability of all cyclization products with respect to the elimination of thioketone was studied by quantum-chemical computations including solvent effects. Regarding the dissociation of addition products 3 into the fragment molecules 1Ter and ketone/thioketone, calculations prove that a significantly larger distortion energy in ketones compared with thioketones causes lower thermodynamic stability of the ketone adducts.

On the edge of the steric repulsion and reactivity of bulky anilines; a case study of chloro(imino)phosphine synthesis

2-Benzhydryl-4-methyl-6-(1,1'-diphenyl-2-phenyl-ethyl)aniline was prepared by a three-step process. 2,6-Bis(benzhydryl)-4-methyl-aniline was protected by Schiff coupling, then benzylated and finally dealkylated by using hydrochloric acid and methanol. The resulting compound exhibits one of the highest buried volumes around the nitrogen atom of anilines prepared so far, but it reacts with phosphorus trichloride and triethylamine to give a monomeric chloro(imino)phosphine.

Heavier element-containing aromatics of [4n+2]-electron systems

While the implication of the aromaticity concept has been dramatically expanded to date since its emergence in 1865, the classical [4n+2]/4n-electron counting protocol still plays an essential role in evaluating the aromatic nature of compounds. Over the last few decades, a variety of heavier heterocycles featuring the formal [4n+2] π-electron arrangements have been developed, which allows for assessing their aromatic nature. In this review, we present recent developments of the [4n+2]-electron systems of heavier heterocycles involving group 13-15 elements. The synthesis, spectroscopic data, structural parameters, computational data, and reactivity are introduced.

Synthesis of a Molecule with Five Different Adjacent Pnictogens

The first molecular compound with all five pnictogens was obtained by a multi-step reaction. Lithiation of the (bisamido)diazadiarsetidine (tBuNAs)2 (tBuNH)2 in aliphatic solvents leads to the dimeric metallated species [(tBuNAs)2 (tBuNLi)2 ]2 (12 ). Upon reactions with AsCl3 , SbCl3 and BiCl3 the polycyclic compounds [(tBuNAs)2 (tBuN)2 ]PnCl (Pn=As (2), Sb (3), Bi (4)) can be obtained. Conversion of 2-4 with [tBu2 SbP(tBu)Li(OEt2 )]2 leads to the remarkable interpnictogens [(tBuNAs)2 (tBuN)2 ]PnP(tBu)SbtBu2 (Pn=As (5), Sb (6), Bi (7)), whereby 7 is the first example of a molecule containing all five Group 15 elements. The compound with adjacent AsNBiPSb-chains is surprisingly stable and does not show high sensibility against light as the labile Bi-P bond might suggest.

A Systematic Survey of the Reactivity of Chlorinated N2 P2 , NP3 and P4 Ring Systems

The reactivity of the four-membered NP3 ring system [RN(μ-PCl)2 PR] (R=Mes*=2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) towards Lewis acids, Lewis bases, and reducing agents was investigated. Comparisons with the literature-known, analogous cyclic compounds [ClP(μ-NR)]2 (R=Ter=2,6-dimesitylphenyl) and [ClP(μ-PR)]2 (R=Mes*) are drawn, to obtain a better systematic understanding of the reactivity of cyclic NP species. Apart from experimental results, DFT computations are discussed to further the insight into bonding and electronic structure of these compounds.